Key Facts:
WGEA PAY GAP UPDATE As of March 2026, the WGEA reports the average total remuneration gender pay gap for the private sector is 21.1%, while the Workplace Gender Equality Agency reports a median gender pay gap of 16.4%. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency public sector average pay gap is 6.4%. Despite slight improvements, men are still 1.8x more likely to be in the highest pay quartile, per Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
https://www.wgea.gov.au/pay-and-gender/gender-pay-gap-data
Strong response to the 2026 Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards demonstrates that organisations and employees remain deeply engaged in creating more equitable workplaces
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, August 2026
At a time when diversity, equity and inclusion is being questioned and challenged in some parts of the world, Australians are continuing to recognise the organisations and individuals making meaningful progress towards gender equity.
The 2026 Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards have attracted 240 nominations, with people taking the time to put forward companies, leaders, managers, employees and change makers they believe deserve recognition.
For the team behind the Awards, the response sends an encouraging message.
"These aren't simply 240 organisations putting their hands up for an award, its about others recognising merit" said Lisa Sweeney, CEO of Business in Heels and founder of the Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards.
"These are people looking around their workplaces and industries and saying, 'What this organisation or person is doing matters, and they deserve to be recognised for it.' That level of activity tells us that gender equity remains important to Australian workplaces."
The nominations showcase progress across organisations of different sizes and industries, recognising initiatives ranging from improving women's representation in leadership and reducing gender pay gaps, to creating more inclusive workplace cultures, supporting intersectionality and opening new career pathways.
One of the organisations nominated this year is EB Games Australia, which shared publicly what the recognition meant to its team. Reflecting on the company's transformation, EB Games noted that just a few years ago many people would have struggled to imagine it becoming one of Australia's more gender balanced retail leadership teams.
Today, women represent 51% of its workforce and 49% of its leaders.
In announcing the nomination, EB Games Australia said:
"Real cultural change isn't driven by a single initiative. It's built through years of decisions, conversations, opportunities and leadership actions that gradually reshape what's possible. Plenty to be proud of. More to go after."
For Sweeney, that sentiment captures exactly why the Awards exist.
"Gender equity is rarely the result of one big initiative. It is usually the accumulation of hundreds of decisions, who gets an opportunity, who gets promoted, how flexibility is handled, whether someone feels heard, how leaders behave and whether organisations are prepared to challenge the way things have always been done."
"What we are seeing through these nominations is a tremendous amount of that work happening across Australia."
Now it is in the hands of the judges
With the nomination and submission process complete, attention now turns to the independent judging panel.
The 2026 panel brings together senior leaders from business, industry associations, sport and organisations committed to gender equity, including the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, Women in Super, VicSport, the Franchise Council of Australia, CEOs for Gender Equity, Grant Thornton and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce. The judges have committed their time to providing a fair and unbiased assessment of the Awards.
Submissions are independently reviewed against criteria including leadership commitment, gender equity initiatives, measurable outcomes, cultural impact, innovation and influence. The judging process is also independently reviewed by KPMG.
"The judges have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them," Sweeney said.
"With 240 nominations highlighting the work being done across Australian organisations, there is a lot to consider. But having so many worthy organisations and individuals to assess is exactly the problem we want to have."
The Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards were established to recognise practical action and share the ideas, initiatives and leadership practices that are helping Australian workplaces make meaningful progress towards gender equity.
Finalists for the 2026 Recalibrate Gender Equity Awards will be announced on 24 September 2026, with the Awards Night taking place on Wednesday, 25 November 2026.
About the Gender Equity Awards
The Gender Equity Awards, presented by Business in Heels, celebrate organisations and individuals across Australia who are delivering practical, measurable progress on gender equity. Now in its fifth year, the program highlights proven initiatives that improve representation, reduce pay gaps and create safe, inclusive workplaces for everyone.
About us:
About Business in Heels International.
The Gender Equity Awards honour individuals, organisations, and initiatives that are leading the charge toward more equitable and inclusive workplaces. Now in our third year, these awards shine a spotlight on best practices, celebrate meaningful progress, and inspire action to drive systemic change. By showcasing trailblazers and their impactful strategies, we aim to encourage others to follow their lead, fostering workplaces where diversity thrives and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The company has a vision to create an unlimited future for women. It is known for its work in providing mentoring support across Australia with Mentor Mornings and Leadership Summits to inspire women into senior roles in male-dominated industries and for Recalibrate - Gender Equity Awards for Australia. Today it connects over 200,000.
